The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections says new safety measures are being implemented after staff members at three state prisons were recently sickened by an unknown substance.
Corrections Department spokesperson Susan McNaughton says 18 staffers at state prisons in Mercer, Fayette and Greene counties were sickened. And that doesn’t include the six employees of the Butler County Prison who were taken to the hospital last week after coming into contact with a substance.
“We can’t have that happen,” McNaughton said. “Drugs in our system make for a system that is less safe.”
One of the steps being taken involves the use of personal protection for prison staff.
“Gloves, masks…anybody that handles any kind of inmate or property, and mail room staff,” she said.
There will also be stepped up training in the handling of hazardous materials, as well as body scanners to prevent the smuggling of drugs. The scanners will soon be installed throughout the corrections system.
Butler County Prison Warden Joe DeMore said he is also focusing on the prison’s mail policy because he believes one way illegal drugs are entering prisons is by being sprayed on inmate mail.
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